Fastening apparatus and method



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FASTENING APPARATUS AND METHOD Sept. 6, 1966 Filed July '16, 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 United States Patent 3,270,545 FASTENING APPARATUS AND METHOD Stanley F. Jackes, University City, Salvatore Strano, St.

Louis, and Raymond T. Wheeler, Bridgeton, Mo.,

assignors to Jackes-Evans Manufacturing Company,

St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed July 16, 1963, Ser. No. 295,477 9 Claims. (Cl. 72391) The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for applying fastening means and particularly relates to a complete system and equipment for assembling sheet metal or metal plate objects. The present invention includes pre-set holders which engage hollow grommets and are adapted to be gripped by a fastener to crimp the grommets to work pieces.

Presently, when sheet metal objects such as school lockers and the like are assembled on site, one of the largest costs in the finished object is the labor involved in assembling the knocked-down parts. Normally, the side walls, shelves and ends are put together with nuts and bolts, the assembly of which involves considerable time and labor. Also, the unsightly ends of the bolts protrude into the occupied space of the locker, often damaging the contents during placement and removal, and presenting a potential danger to the user.

In .the present invention, the flat metal pieces of an objeot, such as a school locker, are assembled by means of headed fastening means such as eyelets or hollow grommets, which are positioned in preformed openings in the pieces and the free ends of the fastening means are deformed to secure the work pieces together.

In the particular application to which the patent invention principally is directed, namely school lockers, the tops and bottoms of the lockers are assembled to the backs on site by means of a tool operated by a portable power supply or a local supply of hydraulic pneumatic or hydrostatic power. The thus preassembled sub-structures are positioned side-by-side on a work surface and the sides and shelves are positioned in their proper location. Thereafter, hollow grommets located on positioning tool extensions are passed through preformed openings in the tops, bottoms, backs, sides and shelves. A grommet fastening tool then is applied to the extensions to turn the free ends of the grommets backwardly to lock the work pieces together, leaving the tool intact and reusable.

Since the hollow grommets are short, and the work pieces have considerable flexibility and movement, the elongated extension on the positioning tool which is passed through the grommets, acts as a line-up device to locate and maintain the work pieces and the grommets in the assembled condition. Also, in order to turn back the free ends of the grommets, the positioning tool extensions are gripped in a suitable portable fastening tool or gun and the end of the tool is moved down against the grommets to turn the ends back against the work pieces. The turning back can be done against the power tool or the location tool.

In order to provide the most efiicient use of the workmans time, either a double-ended grommet positioning tool or a single-ended tool, each having grommet receiving extensions is utilized. With the double-ended tool, a plurality of these tools are positioned in a work piece and bear against opposed internal surfaces thereof with the grommet carrying extensions positioned in preformed openings in the work piece. When the grommets and positioning tools are set up, a workman fastens the grommets in position by applying a grommet fastening tool successively to the prepositioned grommet extensions. With the single-ended tool, the locating tool is held in one hand and the power tool in the other. Each hole is 3,270,545 Patented Sept. 6, 1966 secured in order, and both alignment and securement is accomplished in one operation by the workman.

In the present invention we have provided a'portable system for assembling sheet metal objects on site. The system has as it basic element a power actuated grommet applying tool and preferably includes a portable rivet applying tool and a portable power supply.

One of the problems with present rivet and eyelet applying tools is their large size and weight. The present invention provides compact, light-weight, portable tools operable from a common portable power supply for fast, eflicient, on-the-job erection of the component parts of the final unit.

We have provided an eyelet centering tool for use with the grommet applying gun which allows eyelets to be set in place using power only .on one side of the work, and provides positive, powered self-aligning of the component parts of the work, the parts being secured while being held in alignment.

The present system and tools can be used in assembling file cabinets, containers, boxes, shelving, angles, channels, and other structural parts. The present system, using eyelets and rivets, eliminates protrusions on the final product, eliminates accidental removal or removal by tampering, and is easy to assemble in tight areas.

Accordingly, one of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a grommet setting device which is positioned in a sheet metal housing to locate hollow grommets in opposed openings in the housing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a grommet positioning device having means thereon for holding itself adjacent to the internal surface of a metal flange and having an elongated extension which passes through the eye of a hollow grommet and locates the grommet in an opening in the flange.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a grommet positioning tool having an extension adapted to be gripped in a collet of a power driven grommet fastener, said fastener having a sliding sleeve which moves against the end of the grommet to turn it back on itself, and thereby fix the grommet in aligned openings in adjacent work pieces and fasten the work pieces together.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight portable grommet fastening tool having a fixed collet and a sliding sleeve adapted to turn back the free end of a hollow grommet and thereby fasten two or more work pieces together.

A further object is to provide a grommet positioning tool having a tapered surface which accomplishes positive alignment of mating parts when the tool is gripped by a power tool, the parts being held in alignment until they are secured together by the power tool.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a grommet fastening tool having a spring on the grommet engaging head to firmly set the objects to be fastened together prior to turning back the grommet against one of the pieces.

Another principal object of the present invention is to provide a system including a portable tubular rivet machine, a power actuated eyelet applying tool, and a portable common power supply for the rivet machine and the eyelet tool.

Still another principal object of the present invention is to provide a portable tubular rivet machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of on-site assembling of knocked-down lockers and the like wherein work pieces are set up and grommets positioned in aligned openings in adjacent work pieces and held therein by means of positioning devices having extensions thereon passed through the hollow '3 grommets, and wherein a grommet setting tool is thereafter applied to the extensions to set the grommets and secure the work pieces together.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent hereinafter.

The present invention comprises a grommet fastening tool and grommet positioning tools having extensions which pass through hollow grommets and which are adapted to be engaged by the grommet fastening tool to clinch the prepositioned grommets to work pieces. The present invention also comprises a portable tubular rivet machine and system incorporating same. The present invention further comprises a method of assembling knocked-down work pieces, and the tools and apparatus hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings wherein like numbers refer to like parts wherever they occur,

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of two components of the present system,

FIG. 2 is a side view partly in detail of a first modification of portable grommet applying gun,

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the gun shown in FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2 and showing the barrel in its extended position as indicated by the broken lines of FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 is a side view of a grommet positioning tool,

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the tool shown in FIG. 5 inserted into the gun shown in FIG. 2,

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a double-ended grommet positioning tool,

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary partially broken side view of the tool shown in FIG. 7 positioned in a work piece,

FIG. 9 is a partially broken perspective view showing a set-up work piece,

FIG. 10 shows a modification of grommet applying gun and is partly in section and partly in elevation,

FIG. 11 is a side view partly in section of a modified grommet positioning tool,

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary right side elevational view of a portable tubular riveting machine shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 13 is a left side elevational view of the riveting machine of FIG. 12,

FIG. 14 is a front elevational view of the riveting machine shown in FIG. 12,

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 1515 of FIG. 14,

FIG. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in section showing a hollow rivet partially through the jaws of the rivet holder,

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary view partly in section showing a hollow rivet having its free end clinched against the underside of a work piece,

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the rivet fully applied,

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary front elevational View of the rivet machine,

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the feed mechanism showing the hammer with its downward stroke partially completed, and

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary sectional view of the engagement of the rivet clip with its holding bracket taken along line 2121 of FIG. 14.

FIG. 1 shows two elements of the present assembly system, a portable tubular rivet machine 1 and a portable power supply 2, such as the shown hydraulic pump. The pump 2 also is adapted to be connected to and to operate another component of the system, namely, the portable grommet fastening tools 10 and 100 shown in FIGS. 24 and FIG. 10.

The tool 10 comprises a housing 11 having an internal bore 12 which houses a double-ended piston 13. The piston 13 is spring loaded by means of springs 14 and 15 which fit between the internal piston shoulder 16 and the end cap 17 and the internal piston shoulder 18 and the end cap 19, respectively. The piston 13 is provided with an internal slot 20 which slidably receives one end 21 of a right angular hammer 22. A port 23 in the end cap 17 communicates the internal piston shoulder 16 with a conduit 24 connected to a suitable source of valve controlled fluid pressure, such as the storage tank of an air compressor or hydraulic pump 2. A switch 24a is fixed to the housing 11 and controls the power source valve to apply and release the pressure to the shoulder 16.

The hammer 22 is pivoted at 25 to a bracket 26 which is fixed to the housing 11. A right angular end 27 on the hammer 22 is slidably housed in a groove 28 provided in a slidable barrel 29 mounted on the housing 11. The barrel 29 encases a fixed collet 30 mounted on a bracket 31 fixed to the housing 11. The barrel 29 and collet 30 constitute the main components of the grommet fastening mechanism. The collet 30 comprises a stem 32 externally threaded on its upper end and there fastened to the bracket 31 by a lock nut 33 and provided on its lower end with fingers 34 spaced by slots 35. The stem 32 is provided with an internal bore 36. The fingers 34 are tapered and terminate in enlarged gripping members 37. Thus, the internal diameter of the stem bore 36 gradually increases along the length of the fingers 34. The gripping members 37 have an internal node 39 on their outermost ends. The outer diameter of the fingers 34 decreases progressively toward the gripping members 37 which are joined to the fingers 34 by an external outwardly tapered shoulder 40. In the heat treating, the fingers 34 of the collet 30 are stressed in an open position.

As mentioned, the barrel 29 is provided with the external grooves 28 which slidingly receive the hammer end 2'7. The upper barrel end 41 abuts against the underside 42 of the bracket 31 and functions as a stop for the barrel during its upward or retracting movement. The barrel 29 also is provided with an internal bore 43 which has an enlarged counterbore 44 at its lower end. An internal locking shoulder 45 connects the bores 43 and 44. The bore 44 is internally threaded adjacent to its end to receive a plug 46. The plug 46 is provided with a throughbore 47 aligned with and of approximately the same diameter as the collet stem bore 36. The plug 46 has an outwardly projecting hammer portion 48 provided with an annular groove 49 in its outermost end. The groove 49 is adapted to roll the free end of a hollow grommet back upon itself as will be explained more fully hereinafter.

A spring 50 snugly fits around the outer surface of the anvil 48 and protrudes beyond the end thereof to firmly seat the work pieces together prior to clinching the grommet.

A grommet positioning tool is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and comprises a body 61, and an elongated extension or pilot 62 having a grommet engaging shank 63, a reduced neck 64 and an enlarged head 65. The grommet positioning tool body 61 is provided with a groove 66 on its end adjacent to the shank 63 which firmly seats the head of a grommet 67. Set screws 68 position the extension 62 within the body 61 of the tool 60 and magnets 69 are secured to the face of the tool 60 by suitable fastening means such as screws 70. The magnets 69 serve to position the tool 66 against the internal surfaces of a metal work piece 71 (as shown in FIG. 6) with the extension shank 63 being passed through the eye of the hollow grommet 67 and the remainder of the extension 62 in cluding the head being positioned between the collet fingers 34.

The work pieces 71 and 71a (FIG. 6) are provided with prepositioned grommet receiving openings 72 and 72a. When the free end of the grommet 67 is clinched by the grommet applying tool 10, the spring 59 firmly urges the work pieces 71 and 71a together before the free end of the grommet 67 is turned back on itself (as shown by the broken lines in FIG. 6). The annular groove 49 on the hammer 48 serves to roll the free end of the grommet 67 back against the outermost work piece 71a.

The grommet or eyelet 67 may be reversed on the pilot 62 if desired. That is, the head may rest in the groove 49 and the groove 66 be used to curl the free end of the grommet 67.

In operation, the extension head 65 is positioned in the collet fingers or jaws 34 beyond the gripping members 37 before the tool is activated by applying fluid pressure to the shoulder or pressure receiving surface 16.

When pressure is applied against the surface 16, the piston 13 moves to the left in FIG. 1 and compresses the spring 15. The piston 13 carries the hammer end 21 with it, and the right angular construction of the hammer 22 translates the linear motion of the piston 13 into linear motion in a right angular direction of the hammer end 27 and the barrel slide 29.

As the barrel 29 moves toward the work pieces 71 and 71a and the grommet positioning tool 60, the collet fingers 34 are sprung inwardly grasping and holding the extension head 65 therebetween. The internal barrel shoulder 45 rides over the external collet shoulder 40 to lock the collet gripping member 37 firmly around the extension neck 64 behind the head 65 with the collet fingers 34 being firmly held against the extension head 65.

The spring 50 firmly seats the work pieces 71 and 71a against each other before further movement of the barrel 29 bends the grommet 67 back against the work piece 71a to clinch the work pieces 71 and 71a together.

When the fluid pressure in the line 24 against the piston surface 16 is released, the spring acting against the opposite end 18 of the piston 13, drives the piston 13 rightwardly in FIG. 2, and the pivoting movement of the hammer 22 retracts the barrel 29 into inactive position. The spring 15 is stronger than the spring 14 and normally urges the piston 13 to inactive position, being compressed only when the surface 16 is exposed to sufficient receiver pressure to overcome its spring force.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a double-ended extensible grommet positioning member 73. The member '73 is used to position the grommets 67 in opposed preformed openings in a partially subassembled work piece as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The tool 73 comprises a body portion 74 having an internal bore 75 in which a fixed extension member 76 is fixed by a set screw type handle 77. The fixed extension member 76'is similar to the extension portion 62 of the grommet positioning tool 60, and can be replaced by removing the set screw 77. A similarly shaped member 76, having a different length, then can be positioned in the body 74 to compensate for work pieces of different width.

The opposite end of the body 74 houses a retractable grommet positioning extension member 78 which includes an extension portion 79 ('which is similar to that described for the tool 60), and a body portion 80 slidable in the bore 75. A spring 81 urges the member 78 outwardly into extended position. A removable handle 82 screws into the extension member body 80 and rides in a-slot 83 in the tool body 74. The handle 82 positions the extension member 78 to the tool body 74, and, when removed, allows replacement of the extension member 78 with another of different length. To position the tool 73, grommets are threaded on both extensions 76 and 79, the extensions and grommets are passed through opposed work piece openings, and the tool 73 is expanded to seat firmly against the internal surfaces of the work piece.

FIG. 9 shows a series of grommet positioning members 73 positioned in a set-u-p Work piece. In assembling the lockers shown in FIG. 9, the backs 84 are laid on the supports 85; the sides 86 are inserted between the backs 84; grommets 67 are positioned on the ends of the doubleended extension members 73; the extension members 73 are positioned in opposed openings in the adjacent backs 84 and sides 86; the grommet positioning members 73 are locked in position; the grommets 7-3 are clinched to 6 secure the backs 84 and the sides 86 together; the tops 87 are set in place and secured likewise; the bottoms 88 are set in place and secured likewise; any shelves and the like are installed; the sections are set up and connected together; and finally the doors are installed.

Alternatively, the tops 87 and bottoms 88 may be attached to the backs 84 as the first step using the portable rive-t machine, hereinafter described in detail. The subassemblies comprising a back 84, a top 87 and a bottom 88 are laid on the support 85, the sides 86 installed and the assembly proceeds as hereinbefore described.

Also, the single extension tools 60 or 132 may be used in place of the double extension grommet positioning tools 73.

Using the assembly method shown in FIG. 9, it is necessary to set up grommet positioning tools 73 only in every other locker so that one in every three lockers is assembled with no labor, or if the alternative method is used, the only labor involved is the initial fastening of the top 87 and bottom 88 to the back 84.

The grommet fastening tools 10 and shown in FIGS. 2-4 and FIG. 10 may be used to turn back the free ends of the eyelets 67 to secure the work pieces together.

A modification of the portable eyelet-applying gun is shown in FIG. 10. The gun 100 comprises a cylindrical body 101 having a chamber 102 therein. The body 101 is provided with a boss 103 adjacent to one end and a side wall opening .104 aligned with the boss 103. The boss 103 is provided with a threaded opening 105. The rear end of the body 101 is closed by a wall 106, and a threaded port 107 communicates with the bore 102 adjacent to the rear wall 106. The front end of the body 101 is threaded to receive a plug 108. A bifurcated boss 109 is positioned on the outer surface of the body 1011 circumferentially aligned with the opening 104 and 180 from the opening 104. The boss 109 is provided with holes for a dowel 1'10 and is in alignment with a second opening 111 in the body wall. 'The body openings 104 and 111 are aligned circu-mferen-tially.

A piston 112 is mounted in the chamber 102. The piston 112 has a lateral opening 113 therethroug-h, intermediate its ends. Sea-l means 115 are retained in a groove 116 positioned adjacent to the rear end 117 of the piston 112. A hollow pipe 118 is threaded to the port 107 and communicates with an expandable chamber defined between the piston end wall 117 and the inner surface of the chamber end wall 106. The pipe 118 has a fitting :119 on its opposite end which is adapted to be attached to a source of pressurized fluid, either hydraulic, hydrosatic or pneumatic. The fluid preferably comes from the portable power supply 2 shown in FIG. 1.

Return springs 120 are interposed between the piston 112 and the plug 108 threaded to the front of the body 101. The spring 120 urges the piston 112 to its rearward position, and when pressurized fluid is released through the pipe 118, the piston 112 is moved forwardly to compress the springs 120.

A rocker arm 121 is pivotally mounted on the dowel 110 at one end, and has a bifurcated second end 122. The arm 121 is housed in the piston slot 113 and extends through the openings 111 and 10 4 in the body 101. The rocker arm 121 is bulged outwardly at its center portion to slidingly engage the front and back edges of the piston slot 113. Front and rearward movement of the piston 112 carries the rocker arm 121 in corresponding movernent.

A collet 123 is threaded to the boss 103 on the top of the body 101 and is secured thereto by a lock nut. A slidable collet chuck 124 having grooves 125 in its outer surface is slidingly mounted on the collet 123 with the bifurcated end 12 2 of the rocker arm 121 engaged in the slots 125. A head 126 is threaded to the front end of the collet chuck 124 and has an annular groove -127 around a center opening 128. The groove 127 fits the curvature of a suitable eyelet.

Forward motion of the piston 112 carries the rocker arm 121 forward, and the rocker arm 12 1, in turn, moves the chuck 124 forward to curl the free end of an eyelet mounted on a grommet positioning tool and clinch the work pieces together. This action is more fully explained hereinbefore in connection with the modification of the invention shown in FIGS. 2-5.

A handle 129 fits over the pipe 118 and is retained against the body 101 by a set screw 130. A switch 131 connected to the power source valve is positioned on the handle. When the switch 131 is activated, pressure is released through the pipe 118 onto the chamber behind the rear end 117 of the piston 112.

With this form of the gun 100', an alignment tool or pilot 132 is used which has a spring 133 mounted around the elongated extension 134 adjacent to an end stop which is provided with an annular groove 135 to curl the free end of the eyelet. The pilot 132 is shown in FIG. 11, and is adapted to be held in position by the workman while he operates the gun 100 with his other hand. As may be seen, with the present tools, the pilot 132 aligns the work pieces and pulls them together as the power is applied to the tool 1%. As long as the power is on, the work pieces are held in alignment and the eyelet then is curled back against the work piece to clinch the work pieces together. Thus the present invention allows both aligning and securing of the work pieces in one operation.

FIGS. 1 and 1221 show a portable hydraulic tubular riveter 1 which is part of the overall system. The riveter 1 is a distinct improvement over present heavy bulky riveting machinery, but may not be necessary on all jobs. Incorporated into the rivet machine 1 is a unique clip feed mechanism for feeding rivets sequentially to the apparatus. The clip provides a storage and handling expedient for the rivets also.

The rivet machine 1 comprises a U-shaped body anchored on removable legs 151 and connected to a suitable source of pressurized fluid, such as the shown portable hydraulic pump 2.

The movable portion of the rivet mechanism is attached to the free end of one leg of the U, and the opposed or anvil portion of the rivet machine is secured to the free end of the other leg of the U. The legs 151 are removable from the body 150', and a handle 152 is positioned on the body 150 for carrying.

The operating head of the rivet machine 1 (FIG. 15) comprises a housing 153 having a chamber 154 therein with a reduced bore 155 defining an internal shoulder 156. A plug 157 having an opening 158 is threaded to the lower end of the chamber 154. Mounted in the chamber 154 is a plunger or ram 159 having a hammer 160 on its lowermost end. A piston 161 is housed in the chamber 154 and connects the plunger 159 to a plunger extension 162, which is slidably mounted in the bore 155. The plunger 159 is slidably mounted in the plug opening 158. The internal shoulder 156 of the chamber 154 and the rear face of the piston 161 define an expandable chamber which communicates through a port 163 with a source of pressurized fluid. When pressurized fluid is admitted to the rear face of the piston 161, the piston 161 is moved downwardly into active position where the hammer 160 engages a suitably positioned rivet 160a.

A rocker arm 164 is pivotally linked to the top of the plunger extension 162 by the pin 198 and a link 159, and is pivoted at its other end 165 to a boss 166 on the housing 153. A protrusion 167 on the rocker arm 164 engages a reciprocal plunger 168 which is slidably mounted in a chamber 169 in the housing 153 and is urged upwardly by a return spring 170 trapped in the chamber 169. The spring 170 and the plunger 16S urge the hammer 160' into its inactive position and so move the plunger 159 and hammer 160 when fluid pressure is removed from the port 163. The foregoing structure is shown most clearly in FIG'. 15.

The rivet feeding mechanism comprises a channelshaped clip 171 (FIGS. 13 and 21) having an elongated slot 172 along one side, with the rivet heads being trapped in the channel and the rivet shanks slidingly protruding through the slot 172. A bracket 173 mounted on the housing 153 holds the clip 171. The rivet feed mechanism, which is operated by the piston 161 and the rocker arm 164, feeds one rivet 160a at a time to an expandable rivet holder 174 Which is aligned with the bottom end of the hammer 160.

A curved chute 175 (FIGS. 13 and 19) fixed to the housing 153 communicates the rivets from the clip 171 to the holder 174-. The chute 175 is of channel-shaped cross section with a slot through which the rivet shanks protrude. The rivets feed by gravity from the clip 171 along the chute 175 to the holder 174.

A single rivet feed mechanism is positioned on the lower end of the chute 175 and comprises a double stop slidable latch member 176 positioned adjacent to the lowermost end of the chute 175. The slide 176 has a bracket 177 into which a drive arm 178 is set. The arm 178 is fixed to a cam 179 which is pivotally attached to the housing 153 and is actuated by a drive roller 180 mounted on the rocker arm 164. A spring 181 mounted between the cam 179 and the housing 153 above the pivot 182 urges the slide 176 to its leftward or closed position, as seen in FIG. 13. The cam 179 includes an outwardly bulged cam surface on which the roller 180 acts during movement of the hammer 160 and piston 161.

The slide 176 includes an uppermost first stop member 183 which interrupts movement of the rivets through the chute 175 when the piston 161 is in its uppermost or inactive position. A second stop 184 is provided on the slide 176 below the first stop 183 and spaced therefrom to define a path through which a single rivet may pass into the rivet holder 174.

The operation of the feed mechanism is as follows: with the piston 161 in its inactive position (FIGS. 13 and 15 the slide 176 is to the left and the first stop 183 interrupts the path of the rivets into the rivet holder 174. As the piston 161 moves downwardly to its active posi tion, the cam 179 is rocked by the cam actuator 1811 to move the slide 176 to the right (FIG. 20), and allow a single rivet to fall past the first stop member 183 into engagement with the second stop member 184 which now interrupts movement of the rivets into the rivet holder 174. As the piston 161 and hammer 160 move back to their inactive upward position, the slide 176 is moved leftwardly so that the first stop member 183 again interrupts the path of the rivets to the rivet holder 174, and the rivet which has passed the first stop member 183 is dropped past the retracted second stop 184 into the rivet holder 174.

The rivet holder 174 is expandable to allow movement of the hammer 160 and the rivet therethrough (FIG. 17). The rivet holder 174 comprises two split jaws 185 and 185a which are mounted on leaf springs 186 which urge the jaws 185 and 185a together while allowing them to open when pressure is exerted thereon. The leaf springs 186 are mounted on a bracket 187 which is slidable with the plunger 159 and hammer 160 until adjustable stop 188 engages a boss 189 positioned on the housing 153. At this point, continued downward movement of the hammer 160 forces the rivet through the holder jaws 135 and 1 85a opening the jaws to permit passage of the rivet therethrough. After the rivet has been clinched (FIG. 17) the hammer 1611 is retracted through the jaws 185 and 185a and the jaws close under the action of the springs 186 to receive the next rivet from the feed chute 175.

A return spring 190, mounted slackly between a push rod 191 on the plunger 1'59 and the arm 164, returns the bracket 187 into engagement with the bottom of 9 the plug 157 when the hydraulic pressure is removed from behind the piston 161 (FIG.

The bottom of the rivet mechanism comprises an anvil 192 having an annular groove 193 around a central opening 194 in which a plunger 195 having a tapered upper end is slidably mounted (FIG. 17). A return spring 196 is interposed between the base of the plunger 195 and a setscrew 197 to urge the plunger 195 upwardly through the opening 194. The plunger 195 serves as a pilot for the eyelet 160a to guide it through the openings in the work pieces (FIG. 15) and into engagement with the groove 193 so that it may be turned back properly. The spring 196 returns the plunger 195 to its outermost position after the hammer 160 has been retracted.

This invention is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the examples of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

'1. A tool combination for applying hollow grommets comprising a first tool including a frame, a cylinder mounted on the frame, a piston movable within said cylinder, a lever pivotally attached to the tool and movable with the piston, a fixed collet mounted on the tool, said collet having deflectable spring-like fingers on its outermost end, inwardly directed retaining means on the fingers adjacent to their outermost ends, a barrel slidably positioned on the collet in engagement with the lever and movable therewith in response to movement of the piston, said barrel having an active and an inactive position, and cooperating means on the inner surface of the barrel and the outer surface of the collet fingers to urge the fingers together as the barrel is moved over the collet toward its active positive to grasp firmly an elongated extension positioned in the collet, the collet fingers opening up and resuming their original position when the barrel is returned to its inactive position to release said elongated extension position in the collet, and a grommet positioning tool positionable on the opposite side of a work piece independently of the first tool comprising means for engaging one end of a hollow grommet, and said elongated extension being passable through a hollow gommet and an opening in a Work piece, and adapted to be gripped in said collet.

2. The tool defined in claim 1 wherein said sliding barrel has an active position and an inactive position controlled by movement of the lever about its pivotal connection to the tool, and the piston is spring loaded to urge the lever and the barrel toward the inactive position of said barrel.

3. The tool defined in claim 2 wherein one end of the piston and the cylinder define an expandable chamber and include a pressurized fluid conduit connected to the expandable chamber whereby the piston is moved within the chamber upon application of pressurized fluid to said expandable chamber to drive the lever and barrel to active position.

4. A tool combination for applying hollow grommets comprising a first tool including a frame, a cylinder mounted on the frame, a piston slidably mounted in the cylinder, a port adjacent to one end of the cylinder for receiving pressurized fluid between the cylinder end and one end of the piston, a return spring interposed between the other ends of the cylinder and the piston urging the piston toward the port, a substantially right angular lever pivotally attached to the frame adjacent to the intersection of its right angular arms, the end of one arm of the lever being in engagement with the piston and movable With the piston, a collet fixed to the frame at substantially right angles to the cylinder, the collet having spring like gripping fingers on one end for grasping an elongated extension therebetween, a slidable barrel mounted on the collet for reciprocal motion with respect thereto, means on the inner surface of the barrel to contract the fingers as the barrel is moved toward that end of the .collet, the second arm of the lever being in engagement with the barrel and the barrel being movable along the collet in response to movement of the arm, a grommet curling hammer on the end of the barrel, and a spring surrounding the hammer and protruding outwardly thereof in an axial direction, and a grommet positioning tool positionable on the opposite side of a work piece independently of the first tool comprising means for engaging one end of a hollow grommet, and said elongated extension being pass-able through a hollow grommet and an opening in a work piece, and adapted to be gripped in said collet.

5. A tool combination for applying hollow grommets comprising a first tool including a frame, a cylinder mounted on the frame, a piston reciprocally mounted in the cylinder, a port in the cylinder adjacent to one end thereof for receiving pressurized fluid between the end wall of the cylinder and one end of the piston, a return spring mounted between the other end of the piston and the second cylinder end wall, a rocker arm pivotally fastened to the frame and in engagement with the piston and movable therewith, a boss on the cylinder, a collet fixed to the boss and extending longitudinally of the cylinder, the collet having spring like gripping fingers on one end for grasping an elongated extension therebetween, a slidable barrel reciprocally mounted on the collet and engaged with the rocker arm and movable therewith in response to movement of the piston, and means on the inner surface of the barrel to contract the collet fingers as the barrel is moved toward that end of the collet, and a grommet positioning tool positionable on the opposite side of a work piece independently of the first tool comprising means for engaging one end of a hollow grommet, and said elongated extension being passable through a hollow grommet and an opening in a work piece, and adapted to be gripped in said collet.

6. A tool combination for applying hollow grommets to a work piece comprising a first tool including a frame, a cylinder, a double-ended piston slida-by mounted within said cylinder, -a sliding barrel mounted on said frame, means for transmitting motion of said piston to said barrel, a fixed collet within said barrel, deflectable fingers on the end of the collet, cooperating means on the barrel and the collet fingers to move the collet fingers together to grasp an elongated extension therebetween as the barrel is moved, a hammer on the end of said barrel, and a grommet positioning tool positionable on the opposite side of a work piece independently of the first tool, said tool comprising means for engaging one end of a hollow grommet, and an elongate-d extension passable through a hollow grommet and an opening in a work piece, and adapted to be gripped in said collet.

7. The tool combination defined in claim 6 including maget mounting means on the grommet positioning tool for attaching said tool to one side of a metal work piece.

8. The tool combination defined in claim 6 wherein the grommet positioning tool is expandable and includes collet engaging extensions on both ends thereof, said tool being adapted to be expanded within a work piece against the sides thereof and including means for maintaining said tool in expanded position.

9. The tool combination defined in claim 6 including resilient means surrounding the elongated grommet positioning tool extension, said resilient means being engageable with the work piece before the free end of the grommet is turned back to secure the grommet to the work piece.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 99,394- 2/1870 Blake 269-37 1,143,740 -6/ 1915 Wales 218-29 1,832,681 11/1931 Alford 2182 2,049,822 8/ 1936 Polly 21842 (Other references on following page) 11 UNITED STATES PATENTS Huck 72-391 Berliner. Geldhof 218-19 Huck 218-47 Fischer 21 8-36 Colley 218-47 X Mitchell 72-391 Doyle 218-2 12 Gartner et a1. 269-37 Haley 218-42 Griffith et a1.

Newstead 2218-47 Oh'am'bers 218-2 9 Van Hecke 218-47 X CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

GRANVI'LLE Y. CUSTER, JR., Examiner. Doyle 2182 10 D. D. SCHAPER, R. D. GR-EFE, Assistant Examiners. 

1. A TOOL COMBINATION FOR APPLYING HOLLOW GROMMETS COMPRISING A FIRST TOOL INCLUDING A FRAME, A CYLINDER MOUNTED ON THE FRAME, A PISTON MOVABLE WITHIN SAID CYLINDER, A LEVER PIVOTALLY ATTACHED TO THE TOOL AND MOVABLE WITH THE PISTON, A FIXED COLLET MOUNTED ON THE TOOL, SAID COLLET HAVING DEFLECTABLE SPRING-LIKE FINGERS ON ITS OUTERMOST END, INWARDLY DIRECTED RETAINING MEANS ON THE FINGERS ADJACENT TO THEIR OUTERMOST ENDS, A BARREL SLIDABLY POSITIONED ON THE COLLET IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE LEVER AND MOVABLE THEREWITH IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF THE PISTON, SAID BARREL HAVING AN ACTIVE AND AN INACTIVE POSITION, AND COOPERATING MEANS ON THE INNER SURFACE OF THE BARREL AND THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE COLLET FINGERS TO URGE THE FINGERS TOGETHER AS THE BARREL IS MOVED OVER THE COLLET TOWARD ITS ACTIVE POSITIVE TO GRASP FIRMLY AN ELONGATED EXTENSION POSITIONED IN THE COLLET, THE COLLET FINGERS OPENING UP AND RESUMING THEIR ORIGINAL POSITION WHEN THE BARREL IS RETURNED TO ITS INACTIVE POSITION TO WHEN THE BARREL IS RETURNED TO ITS INACTIVE POSITION TO AND A GROMMET POSITIONING TOOL POSITIONABLE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF A WORK PIECE INDEPENDENTLY OF THE FIRST TOOL COMPRISING MEANS FOR ENGAGING ONE END OF A HOLLOW GROMMET, AND SAID ELONGATED EXTENSION BEING PASSABLE THROUGH A HOLLOW GOMMET AND AN OPENING IN A WORK PIECE, AND ADAPTED TO BE GRIPPED IN SAID COLLET. 